Saturday, January 8, 2011

Semangat-ed

You know why I hate talks at education fairs? Because, at every (Medicine-related) talk I've attended, I get the whole MEDICINE IS HARD AND NOT FOR EVERYONE AND THE POINT OF MY TALK IS TO PUT YOU OFF IT BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS CUT OUT FOR IT AND IT IS EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO GET INTO RAWR RAWR RAWR spiel, which I am so utterly sick of.

Look. I know being a doctor isn't about the glamour. In fact, I don't think being a doctor is glamorous at all; with the workload and constant exposure to diseases and all that, I think it's a terrible job. Still, I want to do it. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I cannot imagine myself doing anything else.

There is this unexplainable pull to the profession that I've felt for the longest time (and I'd better finally figure out the words for it when the time comes for me to be interviewed). I'm sorry if it sounds corny, but I swear it's true. I just...I want to be a doctor. I want to be able to treat and cure and do what I can to ease suffering. I want to know what to do when someone is hurt and be able to do it. I want to see the progress as patients get better and know that it's partly because of me (we can't be forgetting God, now, can we?).

It's going to be a rocky road for sure (even trying to decide on a uni is proving to be difficult), but I can do this. So many before me have done it and so many after me will too -- so why can't I? This is something I want, and there are personal reasons behind my possible choice of field of specialisation (oncology for now, but I hear people change their minds about their specialist course many, many times before taking it). I am pretty driven, and I want to do this.

I can and I will, and I'll be damned if I let education fair speakers deter me.

P.S. For those who don't speak Malay, the title of this post translates to 'Spirit-ed', according to Citcat.

4 comments:

The last time I went to an education fair was to accompany my brother. Though I was the one being given the forms and questions.

The whole MEDICINE IS HARD GRAAAAAAAGH GET LOST is to discourage those who are in it for the name, as you've said. Funny thing is, the number of new doctors are actually in excess. Seems that you can achieve something with hard-work alone, no need for genuineness.

To make matters worse, I've experienced firsthand some of these interns at the hospital a few times and they did not leave a good impression on me. Rude, lacking common sense, assuming, "EXPENSIVE MEDICINE IS THE CURE, BUY IT BUY IT FROM ME", being lazy when they could, hell, even MOST of the older doctors are like that. They certainly don't seem intent on helping people as much as making money.

Being a doctor IS glamorous, actually; one of those professions like lawyers that are viewed by the majority as the "successful" occupations cause, well, they do earn quite a lot. People always assume I'm going into engineering just because I plan to pursue a physics course because, well, how many physicist friends of yours that are earning six figures a year? In fact, how many physicists do you know personally?

My point is, some people have lost the idea that when you study to become something, you're doing it because you have an interest in the field. The majority now plans to become something because of financial reasons, social standing and fame. So what if you're living in a house that's double the size of mine? So what if I might not form a law-changing equation in the future? Your parents might be proud of you following their footsteps, but mine are proud that I know what I want to be.

In fact, I don't really need anyone else's encouragement to do something I truly want. It's going to be tough with or without, anyway. Good luck to you!

I'm so sorry for only replying to this now! Should've gotten the notification, but didn't.

Ha, representatives from colleges/unis just pounce on any young person they see. What I don;t get is what DRIVES people to be doctors if they're not interested in the profession. Is mere love of money really enough? :/

It's not. There are doctors in my family. They're super-busy all the time. You don't really have time for glamour. Maybe people view you differently, yeah, but you're not around enough to notice, I guess. Then again, it depends on your specialty.

I know zero Physicists. Personally, I mean. I know four from The Big Bang Theory. :P

Those are the people I don't understand. But then again, I have friends who don't know what they want to do, so if they don't seem to have an interest in anything in particular, might as well consider the monetary factors when choosing a profession?

Their driving force could be an honest believe that earning money would bring happiness. Which is unfortunate, since money does not necessarily bring happiness. But, if there is happiness, then money becomes merely an addition.

Educated intellectuals aren't even the only ones earning big moolah. I believe with passion in addition to street skills and character, you can earn a sizable income from (arguably) any interest you have, which is not limited to just the subjects you learn in school. I'm sure everyone has a hobby or two.

On doctors: There are still good ol' ones- sacrificing personal and family time for their job. In fact, I respect anyone who puts their 100% towards helping others. Lawyers, policemen, etc: the group of people I generally stereotype as corrupt capitalists. Shhhhh. =P

Unfortunately, there are doctors who close shop when there are only 2 patients who've been waiting for 3 hours left, have superiority complexes, etc. These are the ones who evidently detest the job, thus (probably) keeping workload minimal and maximizing material benefits. And thus, we have a glamorous doctor, basking fully in the social standing and wealth perks! Who cares about others when we are successful, yes?

I am critical towards practitioners because they directly interact with the people, thus affecting the nature of the society we live in. Researchers and the likes are a different story.

Btw, did you know Brian May has a PhD in astrophysics? A physicist musician. Holy. Shit. D=